The Sun. — London, England, 1864-08-24 00:00:00

- _ MR. ALFRED MELLON'S CONCERTS use: WaS there in Sunday schools and day schools, EVERY ROY XL ITALIAN OPERA EVE HOUSE, COVENT-GARDEN. NING, at Fight. i , l mother's meeti ngs , even i ng c l asses , or any of th e THIS EVENING, Mdlle. C. Patti, Mdlle. Krebs; Mr. Levy kindly efforts which had for their aim the mental Mr. G. Collins, Mr. Patey. and Ali Ben Spu-alle. i BAND OF ONE HUNDRED PERFORMERS. and moral elevation of the poor ? But while rents Operatic selection, "Don Giovanni," &c. are so high and the smallness of the incomings made To-morrow (Thursday), a BEETHOVEN NIGHT. the necessaries of life the first object with the Is. On Friday neat, a Selection from Ross ni's Stabat Mater. On Saturday next, a Grand VOLUNTEER NIGHT. First bourer and his family, it was difficult to devise a Performance of the " Faust" Selection this season. Hand of the Coldstream Guards (by permissiCo. of CoL Mark W , ed). cure. All parties, indeed, readily admitted the Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON. Promenade, Amphitheatre Stalls, and Amphithea t re, One Shilling; Dress Circle, 2s. ed. Private Boxes, £1 Is. and 10s. Cd. The Box Office is open from 10 till 5. existing evils even as they now promptly join in any denunciation of the state of our agricultural cottages, but the evil in both cases remains un touched by words. It needs acts to produce an actual and substantial change for the better, such a change as has now been inaugurated, and, we may trust by the blessing of Providence, will be pro. ductice of lasting benefits. Tae extortionate rents which labouring men and their families are forced to pay in London is not the worst part of the matter, although half a crown or three shil lings a room deducted from twelve or fifteen shil lings a week is serious enough when there is a family to feed. All that goes on the rent is taken off the food, and, naturally enough, is begrudged ; so, to lessen the burden, in many instances one family, already overcrowded in one or two rooms, takes in another to share their little tenement, and so the worst forms of overcrowding result from the avarice of landlords. But when these extortionate rents are paid, the accommodatio❑ is in many in. stances altogether deficient. Drainage and venti lation are bad, there are no conveniences for wash ing clothes or persons, and dirt and squalor pervade the establishments, where repairs are never thought of. The stairs are ricketty and sometimes dangerous. There was a case some time back of a woma❑ being killed by falling down a dark, steep flight in one of such houses, and the whole aspect of the place tends to demoralise and degrade its residents. It breaks down the self-respect and independence which are so great a safeguard to the labouring class, and en courages the weary, disheartened, and thriftless mood which comes only too readily to poor hard-pressed toilers. This question of a due provision for the wants of our artizans of various grades has always been of con siderable importance. But it is now becoming daily more conspicuous from the disturbance created by the numerous railway schemes which are being carried on in London. Railway lines, stations, and termini are revolutionising numerous quarters of the City and dislodging their inhabitants, while the various public improvements now being set on foot, however beneficial in the long run, must nee cessarily have the same tendency. Land is rising to an amount which is surprising, even for London; and if the old fable of London streets being paved with gold has not been realised virtually, it has certainly been so figuratively, when we hear of ground near the Mansion-house being bought at £1,800,000 the statute acre. A small freehold, which cost .£7,000 some thirty years back, has now been valued at £95,000; and it is said that the owners of: a, little chapel in the Poultry have been , offered £40,000 for its' site. At this rate of cal culation there is certainly not much room for work. ing men's abodes, hoWever profitable the letting off houses may be elsewhere. Lord DERBY'S kindly foresight secured the introduction of a clause ensur ing the running of a working man's train night and morning, but the railways must be constructed before that will give relief, and in the meantime, where are the labouring classes to go ? There will, besides, be always a good many to whom it is very important to live close to their work, and who, therefore, cannot afford to move far away, however unwholesome or inconvenient the locality may be. Under these circumstances, then, it is highly satisfactory to find benevolent under_ takings set on foot in an earnest, business-like, practical spirit, which argues well for the ultimate success of the movement. It must not be a matter of charity, but of trade and profit, if the work is to be carried out on a scale commensurate with the ne cessities:of the people. Capitalists and speculators must be shown that the erection of proper dwelling places for the labouring classes may be made a pro fitable investment if we are ever :o see our courts and alleys, our rookeries and their miserable tene ments replaced by clean and wholesome habitations. Of course, those who set about the business from purely benevolent motives will always give their tenants some advantages and indulgences which the mere agent or speculator will not grant, but the great principles of good ventilation and drainage, properly built and substantial houses, good water supply, and reasonable rent, may all become the rule, and not the exception. Mr. PEABODY'S noble gift must be fresh in the recollection of all, and the trustees could not have applied it better than in ministering to this great want. They have erected a substantial block of houses in the heart of Spital fields at an outlay of £20,000, and are now building others on a larger scale in the Lower-road, Islington. The names of Lord STANLEY and Ald. WATERLOW are familiar as workers in this cause, and the noble lord, who is one of Mr PEABODY'S trustees, is also chairman of the company established by the worthy alderman, which has raised £30,000 for a similar object. Alderman WATERLOW has at his private expense made several experiments in model build ings, most of them being situated in the densely populated districts of Finsbury, where they are greatly wanted. The City of London has voted £120,000 for the erection of houses for working men and their families, and has given also a piece of ground in Clerkenwell, which, as times go, is a yet more costly present. Miss BURDETT CODTTS, always foremost in practical good works, hes ex. pended £50,000 on a block of buildings in ° G l um . bia-square, Bethnal-green, which are at present inhabited by 705 persons, being 417 adults and 288 children. These buildings are constructed in the form of a square, with a large playground in the centre, and every accommodation necessary for health and comfort. The PEABODY block in Spital fields is built on the same plan, and in both instances there have been hundreds of applicants for future vacancies. So that one great end has been attained ; and even in these miserable localities the poorer classes have been taught to appreciate comfort and cleanliness. It only remains to convince landlords that such investments can be made at a profit ; and as even Miss COUTTS I elaborate construction is esti. mated to return £l,BOO per annum, it is to be hoped that the task of conviction will soon be accomplished. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THIS EVENING, BORN TO GOOD LUCK. Paddy vßaffer: y, Mr. Dominick Murray. After which, THE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining, J. W. Ray, D. Ft her. D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11. Forre-ter. H. _Mellon; Mrs. henry Alaiston, Miss Emma J3arnett, and Miss F .nny Gwynne. NION THEATRE-It° YAL, ADELPHI.- Sole Proortrator and Manager. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, MY WIFE'S MAID. Yessrs. J, L. Toole, P. Bedford, It. Phillips, and Mr •. Alfred Mellon. After which, MASKS AN D FACES. Messrs. B. Webster, , Bedford, R. Phillips, Billinuton, Stuart; Mrs. Stirling, Billing - ton. and aliss H. Simms. To conclude with THE ACTOR'S RETREAT. Messrs. J. L. Toole, P. Bed,ord, R. Phillips, and Miss Woolg.r. Commence at 7. INTEW BOWER OPERE rr A HOUSE.-- Senora Georg' Cardinal, the eminent Spanish Come dienne, in Smyth Lee's new and eminently succesthil Come di-tta, HER ONLY FAILING; which, together with CYMON AND IPHIGENIA, ICED CHAMPAGNE, and THE KISS AND THE ROSE, will be repeat.d EVERY EVENING. .00UNTRY and SEASIDE DRESSES. J Messrs. .TA Y, of Recent -street, have now in stock a %...Viety of WASHING DRESSES, suitatle for the country and seaside,'and at the c earing-out pt ice of only £llls. 6d. the dress. JAY'S, 247, 240, and 251, Regent -street. BLACK SILKS. — The price of Silks in the raw ma t er i a l has already r se, 15 per cent., and it will soon reach a far tzreater per - tentage. Messrs. JAY, therefore, invite their numer )us patrons to take advantage of the stock they have on hand, which they cm now dispoNe of on favour able terms ; but the sa me qua li t i es w ill na t u rally b., more zo,tly as the price of silk fluctuates to a higher average JAY'S, 217 , 219, and 2M, Regent-street. COALS. LILLESHALL COMPANY'S COALS. Direct from their own Collieries. Marquis' .23g. per ton. I Double 20s. per ton. Top 9 2a. „ Deep ....215. „ Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf, Paddington, W., and Maiden-lane, N. Best Coke Terms cash. JOHN SCOTT, Sole 2,zent. THE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN," Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, can be had Every Evening of G. It. GLIsNIE, NEWS AGENT, No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN' supplied, as soon as published every Evening' by HENRY BROOKS, Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish street, W. Many will hear with regret that it is the inten tion of Colonel APlVlintno to retire from the post of Inspector-General of Volunteers. He has faithfully discharged his duties during the period he has held the appointment, and his services have teen of.the greatest value to all concerned. He has thus confer red a benefit upon his country, for the Institu tion of the Volunteers would be of no avail if they were not Efficiently drilled and well instructed, and we have to thank Colonel M'MuRDo for his zeal and ability in performing his arduous task. It is not easy to exaggerate these services, for the difficulties that had to be encountered in training and fitting the Volunteers for service were very great, and the peculiar nature of the case prevented the adoption of those summary measures by which regular discipline is maintained, and order resolved out of chaos in ordinary affairs, where i ncompetency is speedily transformed into capability. It has been said that the moment of and truly the MGM is the m oment to 'elm off, HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE, Tins Di - sr.—Morning, 6h. sDm.—Afternomt, 71i. 12m. ro-moßmow.-Mornin g , 7h. 40m.—Afternoon. Bh. 12m. T 44,111 M quences ; and a case that recently occurred tends to show that the deceitful and insidious agents of the corrupt and unscrupulcu3 Federals are now spread ing their snares in this country, and that they are proceeding from bad to worse. At the Woolwich Police Court a man was brought np, charged with enticing English soldiers to desert for The American army. This case, strange as it may doubtless sound to many readers, was, as far as it went, proved sgainst the prisoner. The whole circumstances of the affair were very suspicious. In the first place the prisoner had got into the bar• racks in a very surreptitious manner, and must have had secret motives to induce him to incur the risk of being found there. The conversa tions that he held with the soldiers also show that his deep design was to secure the services of these men for the ranks of the army. Such a barefaced proceeding appears perfectly astounding, and the mere we consider the case the greater seems the necessity of adopting some very decisive measures to put a stop to the unwarrantable encroachments of the Americans. We all heard plenty of Yankee assurance, and occasionally saw sufficient of it, but the way in which this undesirable characteristic has displayed itself during the period of the protracted war really passes understanding. Still more incom prehensible is it to find our Ministers so blind, deaf, and obtuse in concerns that are of vital interest to the community, and very closely affect the welfare of the people of this country. We have come to something if we are to submit to these insults with impunity. Surely they might rest content with their enticement of civilians, but it is too much to enter the ranks of our army to choose their recruits. It was said that some one asked Mr DAVIS when the struggle would be over, and he had stated it would endure until a young child then present would be an old man. It is certainly going the way to fulfil the prophecy if we allow, over and over again, this suction of recruits from our shores. A more decided mode of procedure adopted at the outset would assuredly have put a stop to these scandalous proceedings. It is high time that something of a final nature should be , done, or we shall drift on from bad to worse, until the voice of public opinion will be too loudly ex, pressed to allow of farther tampering. loconsis. tenet' is always fatal to the success of any under, taking ; and therefore there is not much to be sur prised at in the fact that this American question has been such a failure. Earl RUSSELL has been pleat fearful:y inconsistent from the beginning of the war, and we are now reaping the conseanences of his imprudence in a very unsatisfactory form. Perhaps even at the eleventh hour the Government may acknowledge the error of their ways by issuing strict orders that no such tampering be be permitted ; and by bringing the offenders under the cognisance of the law they will be doing the state a service, rind really rendering a benefit to the deluded beings who ale simple cr infatuated enough to mak . ° themselves the victims of cupidity, It is very intercatirg to tho se who really concern Menage:yes with the happiness and wellbeing o f their fellow crea tures to watch the Prog ress of the various benevolent efforts that are now being made to improve the condition of the dwellings of the poor. Thoughtful philanthropists have felt for some time the futility of preaching religion,merality, and the due Obsei%nee of the social and domestic .virtues to those whose mode of daily life is totally incompatible with any one of those obligations, un- lese,st the same time, they could be given the choice of better things. So long as two, three, and even four families could be huddled in one room, what ~s~ ~ ~3141~~ LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1864, It, is very inconsistent that so much should be said concerning the perfect neutrality .preserved by our Government in reference to the American question, when -we are continually meeting with decisive proofs that the one-sided course adopted by enthorities, and persisted in by Earl RUSSELL in spite of warning, entreaty, and reproach, has worked many great and serious evils. It was only the other day that the attention of the House of Commons was very properly called to the fact that the Irish were being enticed away in great numbers, and led forth to misery and misfortune. A great deal was said, but apparently little heed R as paid to the assertions by the Government. We were told that it was exaggerated, and that it was extremely difficult to find out the exact particulars concerning the matter. Such laxity of purpose and instability of conduct are certain to lead to serious conse- THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 24, 1864. gallant Colonel has adopted this maxim as his guide, for he could not have chosen a better time for his retirement, and therefore his Mends and admirers have nothing to regret, but doubtless his able and efficient inspection will long be missed by those who were fortunate enough to be under his command. At the review at Liverpool the other day, the Colonel addressed the Volunteers, and announced his intention of retiring; at the same time, he expressed his satisfaction at the state in which he left them. They had im proved greatly during the last five years, both in numbers and efficiency. "He was convinced that I the existence of this force had saved England from many insults, and perhaps from positive, attack.' , No one can question the truth of this remark; but at one time there was much scepticism sfl)at touch ing the use and practicability of the formation of these corps. Tho Volunteers had to lead a very forlorn hope for some time ; but suc cess has at last crowned their efforts, and all praise is due to their exertions, their constancy, and self-denial. They must not forget to azknow ledge the debt they owe to him who has so greatly assisted them in gaining their present standard of efficiency, and it will be a fitting tri`Jute to Colonel Al'Muhpo's eminent s ervic es if th e y present hi m with some testimonials. Haas certainly deserved much at tl' . eir hands, of which they should not be unmindful. 1 LITERATURE. When the long-expected rain fell, they pushed on for fiqy miles to anachsr suitable halting.place, which was called Park De*,?ot. From this depot Captain Sturt made two attempis to reach the centre of the continent. He started, acc(,mpanied by four of his party, advancing over a country which resembled an ocean whose mighty billows, fifty or sixty feet high, had become suddenly hardened into long parallel ridges of solid sand. The abrupt termination of this was succeeded at two hundred miles of what is now so well known as Sturt's Stony Desert, to which frequent allusion is made by Mr Stuart in his journals. After thirty miles more, this stony desert ceased with equal abruptness and was followed by a vast plain of ploughed mud, which Captain Strut describes as a boundless ploughed field, on which floods had settled and subsided." After advancing two hundred miles beyond the Stony Desert, and to within one hundred and fifty miles of the centre of the continent, they were compelled to return to Park Depot, where they arrived in a most exhausted condition. That "centre," which the❑ appeared topless of attainment by the heroic expediti-A under Capt. Start, was, some eighteen years later, successfully arrived at by one of the members of that earlier expedition, John M‘Douall Stuart. We tran- scribe from Mr. Stuart's journal the simply written graphic account of his triumphant arrival on the shore : THE GOAL IS REACHED, "Thursday, 24th July, Thring Creek, Entering the Marsh.—Started at 4.70 course north. I hive taken this course in order to make the sea coast, which I suppose to be distant about eight miles and a half, as soon as possible by this I hope to avoid the marsh, I shall travel along the beach to the north of the Adelaide. 1 did not inform any of the party, except Thring and Auld, that I was so near to the sea, as I wished to give them a surprise on reaching it. Proceeded through a light soil, slightly elevated, with a little ironstone on the surface, the volcanic rock cropping out occasionally; also some flats of black alluvial soil. The timber much smaller and more like scrub, showing that we are nearing the sea. At eight miles and a half upon a broad valley of black alluvial acil, covered with long grass; from this I can hear the wash of the sea. On the other side of the valley, which is rather more than a quarter of a mile wide, is growing a line of thick heavy bushes, very dense, showing that to be the boundary of the beach. Crossed the valley, and entered the scrub, whi c h a complete network of vines. Stapped the horses '„,) clear a beach, and o water of th e I nd i an tr ,re the party w i th the was w y gratified, I delightedand advanced a few to b y e a h r o d l s d Ocean in Van Di emen G u lf, b e f on t ° horses kn ew anyt hi ng o f i v in advance o f me , ca, proximity. Thri ng, who rode them all by surpr'..o, out " The sea 1" which so took had to rep ea t and they were so astoni s h e d , that ho ine call before they fully understood what was meant- I'hen they immediately gave three long sind hearty clieers. The beach is covered with soft blue mud, It being ebb tide, I could see some distance; found it would be im poseible for me to take the horses along it; I therefore kept them where I had halted them, and allowed half the party to come on to the beach and gratify themselves by a sight of the sea, while the other half remained to watch the horses until their return. I dipped my feet, and washed my face and hands in the sea, as I promised the late Gover nor Sir Richard McDonnell I would do if I reached it. The mud has nearly covered all the shells; we got a few, how ever. I could see no sea-weed. There is a point of land some distance off, bearing 70 9 . After all the party had had some time on the beach, at which they were much pleased and gratified, they collected a few shells; I returned to the valley, where I had my initials (J. M. D. S.) cut on a large tree, as I did not intend to put up my flag until I arrived at the mouth of the Adelaide. Proceeded, on a course of 32 9 , along the valley; at one mile and a half, coming upon a small creek, with running water, and the valley covered with beautiful green grass, I have camped to give the horses the benefit of it. Thus have I, through the instru mentality of Divine Providence, been led to accomplish the great object of the expedition, and take the whole party safely as witnesses to the fact, and through one of the finest countries man could wish to behold—good to the coast, and with a stream of running water within half a mile of the sea.'' The enthralling interest of some of the perilous . experiences recounted in these journals may be readily surmised, and many readers will follow with lively sympathy the weary path fist trodden by these pioneers of civilisation. The book is illustrated by excellent maps and some very spirited illustrations. A Diploniate's Xesidence in Persia. By Edward B. Eastwick, F. 8.5., F.S.A., of the Middle Tem ple, late H.M. Charge d'Affaires at the Court of Teheran. Two Vols. Smith, Elder, and Co. Mr. Eastwick has given us a very amusing ac count of his experiences during a three years' resi. deuce in Persia. The style is lively and animated, perhaps occasionally evincing a little too much effort to be entertaining. He tells us at the outset that the great ignorance evinced by his friends and countrymen as to the condition and the very where abouts of Persia distressed him beyond measure on his first accepting his mission, and it waa to his appreciation of thia ignorance that we are indebted for his book. One acquaintance bid ding him farewell an his departure, exclaimed, RECENT TRAVELS. Explorations in Australia, The Journals of John M'Douall Stuart, edited by W. Hardman, M.A., F.R.G.S., with maps and engravings. One Vol. Pp. 510. Saunders, Otley, and Co. This very interesting and valuable work contains the original journals kept by Mr M'Douall Stuart during his several persevering and adventurous ex plorations in Australia between the years 1858 and 1862, containing a particular account of that last triumphant expedition when he fixed the centre of the continent, having traversed it from sea to sea. " Other explorers," says the editor, " had merely seen the rise and fall of the tide in rivers, boggy gtound and swamps intervening and cutting cff all chance of ever seeing the sea. But Stuart actually stood upon its shore end washed his hands in its waters A pleasure dearly earned by perils and privations of great severity —so great, indeed, that for some time after the safe arrival of the party at Adelaide the ife of the gallant leader was despaired of. With the dangers and difficulties of an explorer's life Mr. Stuart had been for many years familiar, having gained his first experience under the guid ance of that distinguished explorer, Clpt. Sturt, whose expeditions he accompanied in the capacity of draughtsman. As a specimen of the trials which await the inquiring traveller in the Australian in terior, we read the following in reference to that early expedition of Capt. Sturt : Leaving Lake Torrens on the left, Captain Sturt and his party pe4sed up the Murray and the Darling, until finding that Cat:Hatter would carry him too far from the northern coarse, which was the one he had marked out for himself, he turned up a small tributary known to the natives as the Williorara. The water of this stream fatlinghim, he pushed on over a barren tract, until he suddenly cage upon a fruit ful and Well-watered slot, which he named the Rocky Glen. In this picturesque Glen they were detained for six montt„ , during which time no rain fell, The heat of the was so intense that every screw in their boxes Was f.lrawn and , all horn handl es an d combs split into fine la m i na 3. Th e lead dropped from their pencils, their filiger-nails became as brittle as glass, and their hair, an;, the wool on their sheep, ceased to grow. Scurvy at:tacked them all, and Mr Poole, the second in commar.a, died. In order to avoid the scorching rays of till sun, they had evacuated an underground chamber, to which they retired during the heat of the day. If you ask me whether I think any person in this country expects any results whatever fro..n the proceedings of the London Conference, I shall not hesitate to give you a frank negative answer. The Danes think they have gained little, as yet, from their deference to foreign Powers, and bitterly regret their compliance with well meant but improvident advice. " Had it sot been espe cially for England's officiousness," they say, "they would not have yielded their ground inch by inch at the outbreak of the war, nor would they have consented to the rasing of the blockade at the armistice. It was not her sympathy for the weaker side, nor regard for the justice of their cause, that England listened to." They say, " She merely con suited her own c Inmercial interests,,, and satisfied Denmark to her anxiety for the general freedom of th e seas. T. 'peace and the unint erru pt e d -..Lose objects are henceforth more easily to be attair:„d by dropping than by sustaining the rights of the I :, an 18 h nation, and when, after the loss of a month o: two, the London negotiatio n b rea k s up, as sensi• ble tnen foresaw it would from the outset, leaving matters exactly as they were, England will consider she has done her duty by Denmark, and the latter will be left at the mercy of her overbearing foes." It is not for me to inquire how much justice there may be in this complaint, which is everywhere audible here. Unquestionably, by their dila toriness and by their lack of energy in carrying out their own resolutions, it would appear as if the statesmen now assembled in London were not greatly in earnest. The skein is tangled beyond the unravelling powers of all human ingenuity, and there is hardly a man who would not shrink from proposing to cut the knot by that terrible sword of a European war, to avoid which so many other questions of vital importance have been for many years left in abey • ance. The writer of these volumes has endeavoured to express no personal opinion, but to maintain (ac cording to examples in Ligh quarters), a strict neu trality. As a background picture of the war, he has given a very p l eas i ng view of the home life and customs of Denmark and the Danes. Here is a charming glimpse of what the author de scribes as DANISH CIVILISATION. The style of b u ildi ng, even of the meanest peasant dwellings i s a perfect marvel to the beholder. The people's ' love for a thatch, as the best shelter in their opinion, both for winter an d summer, the i r preference for high-slanting roofs, quaint gables, vanes, and chimney stacks, do not de tract from the solidity of the masonry, from the neatness and elegance of the design of even the most unpretending abode. There is no such thing as a hut or hovel in the whole land, not an ill-fitting or shattered door, not one broken pane of glass in the small low casements. Tidiness and comfort, most fastidious cleanliness in barn, stable, and dairy, flower -pots behind the window, and bird. cages hang ing from the ceiling, all that can go towards making a mere house a home, was contrived here. The subdued influence of a severe climate seems to have a softening effect on man and beast. There is hardly a horse here but seems to be born thoroughly broken ; you can scarcely fall in with a snarling dog, hardly with one that will bark even in fun. There is a friendliness, a good nature, a thorough sterling honesty, whi..h bind all creatures, and render them fair and considerate towards each other, happy and well-pleased w ith each ether. It is not a tittle to be said in favour cf Denmark, that war can be waged here without marauders, cam p followers, or other bad characters ; without the price of a single article being enhanced by the sudden and exten sive demand. The closer I come into contact with it, the more intimate I become with it, the stronger grows my s ympathy with thi s plain and un p re t en ding, but real and well-grounded D sn i s h c i vilisation. You meet h ardly a man here but se ems to b e contented, and deserv i ng to b e so, and desirous, as far as in him lies, to contribute to yours and everybody's contentment. Whatever may be said about the force of climate, however much I may myself feel inclined to ascribe to it, it is evident that much of this un iversal well-b e i ng must be owing to the disciple of wide spread education, an d goad, provident, liberal government. This is one of th e most valuable works that have yet appeared up on the Danish War, giving as it does a compreh ens i ve v i ew of the first rise and pro gress of the invasion. ty eal.s Nichols. of American Life. By Dr. Thomas Two Vols. Maxwell and Co. ' A ° v interesting gli mpse o f th e Ame r i cans b y one r of themselves, ry Dr. Nichols introduces himself to our notice, and at once claims our sympathy and attention as art emigrant who has turned for a refuge to England, in order to escape taking p ar t in the civil war. Hi mself a native of the North, but fully recognising the justice of the clai ms o f Southern indep en d ence, he protests with indigna tion against the idea of the Federal war. "War for the Union! Fraternity or Death! Be my will kill you! U n it e w i t h me or I will exterminate or erm I inate you." Such, he says, is th e lan guage of the uph o ld ers of the Union, With these opinions Dr Nichols could take no part in the war. "Fight the South I could not. There was no pre. tence or right to nerve my arm or harden my heart. I felt the war to be unjust." Neither was he dis posed to take up arms on the other side, in which he numbered "neighbours, friends, and near rela tions,' As the happiest extrication from a difficult situation, be took refuge with his family in Eng land. Here he is sometimes troubled with send counts of compunction at _having abandoned his "I wish you a .safe arrival at Ispahan." " Why," inquired the new diplomats, " talk of Ispahan. Surely my journey of three thousand miles is enough, without sending me four hundred and fifty further to Ispahan. Know that Tehran is the capital of Persia since 1786—is it not so in the copy-books ? " Other acquaintances evince similar ignorance, and the intending traveller's perplexities are thus amusingly described : As I walked away I met another acquaintance, who, on hearing I was going to Persia, asked if the Parsis were not worshippers of the sun, A. third friend consigned me to Baghdad, and a fourth envied my coming propinquity to Cashmeer, and supposed I should often run up in sum mer. Those remarks of my friends, intelligent parties enough, struck me as a very good index of the indifference and igno rance about Persia which aro so observable in England, and which, it is said, were the cause of an incurable indi• gestion to the last Persian atubassador, who went back and died from it—though, to be sure, he was old enough to have died any way. The same thing returned to my recollection as I found, myself in the train on my way to Tehran. I felt positive disquietude in going to a place that no one seemed to know or care about. " Really, it is curious," thought I; "of ancient empires, not one was so splendid as the Persian ! Greece, Rome, and Palestine excepted, no ancient country fills so many pages in history as Persia—yet who knows and who cares aught about Persia as it really is ? A region thrice as large as la belle .France, with ten millions of the wittiest, hand somest, most agreeable people in the world for its inhabi tants, ought to be more in the market than this. Such were my ruminations as the Dover express hurried me along on my way to take up my duties as Secretary of Legation at Tehran. " Secretary of Legation, that's very , well, but at Tehran, ah I that spoils it. Hand me the scales of judgment that I may weigh the question—Persia or Eng land ? I begin to think I have been wrong in changing. Let me see, pleasure of visiting new countries, leisure for learning new languages, possible promotion, wider sphere of usefulness. Drop that into one scale ; now for the other. Comfort and cleanliness, general immunity from filth, fleas, flies, and fevers, civilised society, England, home and no mosquito curtains wanted I Hi I stop the train—l will return. Well, it is too late now to talk of re turning ; let as see, as the Persians say, what the veil of the future will disclose." From this extract it may be seen that any one anxious to gain an easy and agreeable acquaintance with Persia and the Persians, may do well to accept Mr Eastwick as their cicerone. the Invasion of Denmark, 1864. By A. Galenge, Special Correspondent of The Times at the Head quarters of the Danish Army. Two Vols. Richard Bentley. A melancholy interest is atteched to these two volumes, which were written during the crisis of events in Denmark by one well qualified for the task. The rise and progress of the war, and every event and incident of importance are fully de tailed, and the whole picture is complete, until that dreadful climax of hopes and fears doubts, difficulties, and disppointments the Conference. So dilatory (as we all know) was that Conference, that the author could not wait for its termination ! " I have hesitated,' he writes in his concluding chapter, dated June 15, " for several days about making my few remain <.s labour s ere ing pages ready for th e press , b ecause I hosed the London Conference would come t o th e en d o f the time stipulated for th e acco mplishm , :„ t o f my own task. 1 :;15 instance, outst r i ppe d The historian has, howe ver , i n diplomatist, and I must close my narrative of th e i nvas i on whether the tale h as an en d of Denmark, without knc± w i ng as ©r whether my last ch a pt er only drops v the 4. ln o lD n '-' ; g he first act of a drama, o f w hi c h time 11l as cu a rt b a e ' and event are to work 'out th e denouemero at a di s t an t ;period. Up to this moment the London Conference' has a :A:tiered nothing, and all that remains for me to do is to throw out some conjectures as to the probable results of its final proceedings." Those results (or no.results) being now only too well known, we need not dwell upon them. The Danes were many of them well-prepared for disappoint ment, according to this account from an eye witness ; country to her fate, and w ith an agony of indigos. tion ho protests against the modern system of non intervention. 0, Powers of Europe I—Powers of civilisation I When brother is murdering brother, it is every man's duly to stop the fratricidal strife. How long must nations stand aside, and ask, "Am I my brother's keeper ?" Is there one morality and one religion for men, and another for nations? The public opinion of Europe has denounced this war as a useless conflict. Why canna the opinion of Europe—" the just judgment of mankind"—make itself respected. As some solace in his exile, Dr Nichols has written about his country— In the weary hours of a most anxious exile, I have writ ten the following pages. I have described America, and what seems to me most distinctive in its institutions and people, as I remember them, looking back through a vista of nearly half a century of a busy and varied life, and as they appear to me viewed across the intervening ocean. Americans have usually written of their country with pride and exultation. I have written in sorrow and hurdli ition ; yet not without the hope that, purified as in the fire, she may in the future be worthy of the promise of the past. Beginning with his eftrly life in New England, some forty years ago, Dr. Nichols has given us many interesting particulars respecting his country and his countrymen, which would necessarily escape the attention of the foreign visitor. As a picture of American life,;by a thoughtful observer and actor in the scenes which he describes, the book is full of value. I.Ve must confess that when occasionally the writer dwells upon the faults and shortcoming of his people, we follow him with little sympathy. That they have faults, and enough of them, we are well convinced, but the telling of them comes with ill-grace from the lips of a brother. Passing over such passages, which are few and far between, we have found much to please and interest us in these American recollections. Bat the author shall speak for himself. Here is a vivid glimpse of A NEW ENGLAND WINTBaI My birthplace is about the sal - ms latitude as Lyons, in France, yet the snows fall :lase or four feet deep, and lay on the ground three months at a time. The tee froze 20 inches in thietuess ; the thermometer went down at times to 20, 30, and in soma mountain regions 40 degrees below zero, Then the trees would burst with the frost with a sound like a cannon, and the ground, frozen threA Peet deep, would crack with a noise like thunder, shaking the house when it passed near. These cracks extended across the fields in straight lines for a long distance, and were as deep as the frost extended, and nearly an inch wide ; but after reaching a certain point of cold, 10 or 20 degrees make little difference with the feelings. Protect the hands and feet and the ears and nose from freezing, and the cold stimulates the system to resist it, and is less uncomfortable than a drizzly chill above the freezing point. Steady, in tense cold is by no means the worst of weather: it makes the blood circulate briskly, and the system put forth its energies. The air condensed with the cold is rich in oxygen, and the frost is exhilarating, Then the sleigh-rides I The snow is four feet deep, but trodden in the roadway hard as a rock. All the landscape is glistening white in the dezz:ing sunshine, The trees may be cased all in diamonds ) glittering with prismatic light. You glide along swiftly to the music of the jingling bells, just feeling the notion, and wrapped in buffalo robes, bear skins, or softer Aire. Perhaps it is a string of twenty sleighs, with many couples, gliding through the frozen landsce:ve moonlight , with the silvery ring of a thousand and shouts of merry laughter, ending with a supper and a dance, and then home again Wore the day breaks. Skating, too. It is hardly worth buying skates, or learn ing the beautiful exercise, for the chance one has of enjoy ing it in England ; but in the Northern States of America you can calculate on three or four months of skating when the snow is not too deep upon the ice. Sometimes the snow falls before the large ponds and rivers freeze over— ,sometimes it is blown from the ice. I used to skate miles up -and down the Connecticut river, and when thirsty, creep carefully to the edges of the air -holes, or" glades," in the ice; and drink. The water, clear as crystal, ten or twelve feet deep, ran in a strong current under me, It seems very absurd now that I should have run such a risk for a drink of water; but every boy, I believe, runs many such, and shuadors at the danger in after years. And here, as a striking contrast, is a graphic re taioiscence of THE BOZ BALL. So it was a ball at the Park Theatre—the Old Drury of New York—where the Cookes, and Keane, and Kembles had delighted us, that was fixed upon. There was a sup per, I believe, and there was a series of tableaux vivans, re presenting some of the best scenes in the Pickwick Papers, and the earlier works of the "immortal Bcz." I remember the immense crowd of the " beauty and fashion" of New York that filled the theatre from its dancing-floor, laid over stage and pit, to the gallery. I remember the mixed com wittee, official, fashionable, and literary, and some who aspired to all these distinctions. I think Irving and Cooper were there—l am sure of Halleck and Bryant, Willis sported his ringlets there no doubt ; and can I ever for get the beaming, rosy, perspiring face of the American Korner, General George P. Morris ? There was a rush near the door, a flutter throu3h the crowded theatre, a hush of expectation, a burst of " See the Conquering hero comes," and the author of " Pick wick" and the " Uncommercial Traveller," with all of humour and pathos that lie between, burst upon our astonished and delighted vision. Then the cheers, then the waving of handkerchiefs from floor to boxes, and all the tiers—and tears, no doubt, of joy and happiness—and bouquets innumerable, gave what expression was possible to the irrepressible enthusiasm of the hour. I remember Mr Dickens as my eye caught him there, with all that throng around him, and he the cynosure of ten thousand eyes, allowing each person present the usual number, His hair was in the bright gloss of its youthful, silken curls; his face was full, and ruddy with English health—not seamed, as now, with the thought and work of all these years, His dress was, I thought, sufficiently pronounced; but he was, on the whole, eminently satis factory and sufficiently imposing. It was hard to open a passage where two or three thousand people were crowding to see, and be near, and, if possible, shake hands with him, but with tremendous efforts he was escorted around to room, We tried to dance. Mrs General Morris honoured the thrice-honoured author with her fair hand for a quadrille, but the effort to dance was absurd. I remember being in a set with two young army officers who were afterwards heroes in Mexico, but even their prowess could do little toward carrying their partners through the galop in such a crush. Happily it was before the age of crinoline, and what room there was we made tho most of ; but it was like dancing in a canebrake, the poor girls clinging to their partners to avoid being swept beyond their power to pro tect them. "fie must not piss over the animated description of ♦ DINNER ♦T NIAGARA. But when you go to Niagara, dine once, if never more, at the International Hotel. It is on a scale to match Niagara. The drawing room is a gorgeous immensity of plate-glass, gilding, and upholstery. You walk over a prairie of carpeting. But the dining room gives the best idea of infinite space, infinite eating, infinite clatter. A vast regiment of negro waiters parade, march, counter march, and go through a series of distracting evolutions, to the music of a full band playing in an alcove. There is a march for them to enter; a three-four movement for soup ; 9p/se/eat° passage for fish ; the covers come off to a crash of trombones, cymbals, and gongs ; and so the whole dinner goes off to appropriate music, with an accompani ment of champagne corks like the firing of skirmishers. Altogether, it is a tremendous affair, even to an Ameri can, used to taking his dinner with a few hundred people about him, I can imagine what it must be to an Englishman. The expense of such a dinner, with a bill of fare that would fill four of my pages, is three, or perhaps four, shillings—but the wines are extra. An American, who means to do the thing handsomely, takes champagne. No other wine is worth his drinking. An English lady, wishing to give an idea of an American she met in Mantreal, described as " the sort of man who would take champagne with his soup I" The author's indignant remarks upon the reckless pursuit of riches would perhaps be applicable in other places besides America. In the main these remarks are eminently truthful and wise, but we think such a remark as the following must be taken cum grano. " Everything," says Dr. Nichols, "has a money value f believe the American husband unceasingly values his wife in the Federal currency; and a fine child is associated with some such idea as a thou sand dollars I'' Our last extract shall give a pic ture of an American railway that in this country we should do well to emulate : Let us return, however, to our imaginary trip up the Hudson and across the Empire State. At Albany, we take the Now York Central Railroad for Niagara. It is some 300 miles, and the fare 203 or 255. In some of the States the highest fare is three halfpence a mile, The carriages are much lighter, and to my taste handsomer in appear ance than the English. There is no lack of paint, gilding, upholstery, and ornament. The seats are cushioned and backed with plush. There are stoves in winter, and ice water in summer. In these cars, as these long carriages— seating fifty or sixty persons—are called, are small retiring rooms for both sexes. The doors open upon platforms at the ends of the cars, and you can walk from one end of a train to another while it is in motion. The conductor walks horn end to end inspecting tickets. There is no danger of robbery, murder, or other outrage, as in the small, locked, I and inaccessible compartment.' of European roads. Not only does the conductor walk through to examine the tickets, see that all is right, and answer inquiries, but the newsboy comes along loaded with daily and weekly papers —then he comes with books—all the newest publications, and then with oranges and confectionary. Overhead through every car runs a cord in reach of every passenger, a pull at which will signal the engineer or driver to stop, iircase of accident or other necessity. This cord also enables the conductor to control the train in any part of of it. I never heard of any tear that passengers would I needlessly meddle with it. You travel all night, perhaps, or on a long journey two or three nights in succession. There are sleeping cars, where for a shilling extra you can have a berth made up, and lie very comfortably under your blanket all night without dis turbance,. There is a wash-room in the coraer of this car for your morning ablutions. These railway ears, day and night, are not always as well ventilated as they should be. There are some which are supplied with warm air in winter, and artificially cooled air in summer, in which the ventilation is perfect. There are various contrivances for changing the air and excluding dust, which answer a good purpose. Free competition and demand and supply, it may be presumed, will in time make them universal, From the specimens we have given it will readily be seen what pleasant information may be gleaned from Dr. Nichoi's very interesting pages. Four Years in the lonian Islands : their Political and Social Condition, with a History of the Brt. tish Protectorate. Edited by Viscount Kirkwall, lately on the Staff of Sir Henry Ward, seventh Lord High Commiasioner. Two Vols. Chapman and Hall. " The cession of the lonian blends," very justly observes the author in his preface, " is assuredly one of the most extraordinary events of the day, the dot appreciation of which should not be a matter of indifference to intelligent and patriotic Englishmen. A great kingdom has voluntarily retired from a most influential position in the east of Europe, and has ceded to another nation one of the strongest fortresses in the world." Believing that very little is accurately known in this country either of the social or political condi tion of the lonians,,or of the merits and faults of the British Protectorate, Lord Kirkwall has eiadeae vowed to supply this want of information by the publication of this very opportune work. To en able his readers to form a correct judgment on the subject, the noble author has given an in troductory historical sketch, with a particular ac count of the Venetian and other Governments which preceded the British protectorate. The pro tectorate itself occupies the remainder of the first volume, the ten chapters into which it is divided being each successively devoted to the history of the Administrations of the ten Lord High Commis sioners who have held dominion at Corfu, from Sir Thomes Maitland, who was appointed after the Treaty of Paris in 1815, down to Sir Henry Storks, whose tenure of office is but just at an end. Mr. Gladstone's famous mission is of course dwelt upon at some length. Lord Kirkwall expresses his wonder that he (Mr. Gladstone) "should ever have thought the passing of his proposed reforms pos sible. Neither the English nor the lonians in Corfu," he adds,' had ever believed it. Both were strongly opposed to the contemplated change." " To love not wisely but too well," says Lord Kirk wall, in reviewing these proceedings, is a very dan gerous quality. It is best to wait for reciprocity before pouring out one's whole heart to strangers. Mr. Gladstone, who had come out such a warm Philhellene, departed thoroughly disgusted with the Greeks in General, and with the lonians in particular. He would persist in believing that the comparatively few and timid friends of the Pro tectorate were the chief causes of a failure which was due entirely to the fact, that to understand a people thoroughly even a great genius must live some time amongst then, speek their language, and see them at unguarded social momenta. Mr. Mr. Gladstone," he adds, " bequeathed to his suc cessor a most Unenviable legacy. The vvisest states man in Europe would have moiled frOm the task. One great genius had been sent out by another great genius, and yet had failed unmistakably. It appears, therefore, to have been decided in Eng land that extensive knowledge and distinguished ability were incompatible with success in the Sep tinsular Republic, and that an ordinary man of business would make the best Lord High Commis sioner. With what results this decision was fol lowed, will hereafter fully appear. The severe manner in which the English press assailed the con duct of the great Philhellene throughout his mis sion, led the public to expect that Parliament would take up the matter, and call him to some account. This, however, was not the case, and the subject soon fell into oblivion. The reason was very natu ral, if we consider the state of political parties at that time. Mr Gladstore had been sent on his mis sion by the Conservatives, who could not, therefore be expected to find fault with his proceedings. On the other hand, the Liberal party was silenced by the fact that on his return to England be became a member of the Wtiig Cabinet ; thus making a most masterly retreat from his serious repulse in the lonian Islands." Such a result proving an exception to the adage, "between two stools," &c. Leaving histo rical interpretations and political perplexities, the second volume of this work is filled with pleasantly written personal reminiscences of a four years' residence in the lonian Islands, chiefly at Corfu, the loss of which, as a place of British resort, is much deplored. " Corfu, as a naval and military station, and as a pleasant winter abode for civilians, will always be deeply and generally regretted. As regards English society and hospitality it was a second Malta, whilst in every other respect it greatly surpassed the attractions of that ' military hothouse.' Witte regard to the subalterns of the army, the ex cellent shooting in Greece and Albania, with the delightful yachting excursions, and the paper hunts of the ladies and gentlemen, rendered Corfu in their eyes a kind of earthly paradise. English civilians and distinguished foreigners also visited with p!ea. sure, especially during the winter, the beautiful capital of the Seven Islands." A very effective picture of the manners and customs of the lonians may be gathered from these pages of recollections Here, among other anecdotes is A CURIOUS CUSTOM. On evary Easter Eve, a gun is fired as a signal at 11 a.m. ; and, at the same instant, from the windows and tops of all the houses in Corfu, great quantities of crockery are dis charged into the streets. For this memorable occasion, all broken or cracked earthenware jugs and dishes are carefully preserved throughout the year. Ths supposition is, that good Christians are stoning, in imagination, the traitor Jew. The Greeks will not readily confess this fact to strangers, yet it is generally believed. On Saturday, the 14th of April, 1860, I (to use a sporting phrase) very nearly came to grief, from a misunderstanding in regard to this custom. I had been led to believe that operations were to commence at noon. But about two minutes to 11, I was riding quietly along the Line Wall, on my way home, when I observed that the streets were unusually empty. My suspicions being excited. I asked of a mau in a doorway if it were not at 12 that the gun would be discharged. He replied that it would be fired in a minute or two. I instantly set spurs to my horse, and galloped to my house at racing speed. Just as I had dismounted, bang went the gun, and down came the crash of crockery from the houses. From the moment the crockery falls, guns and pistols are fired in all directions. This part of the ceremony lasts for three or four days, and is by no means agreeable to ladies, or quiet strangers. The decadence of Grecian art is lamentable and ridiculous if the following anecdote mAy be regarded as a specimen : A CEPHALONIAN PICTURE GALLEHY. In the month of April, we were invited one day t) see the largest and best gallery of pictures in the island. A more comical proof of the decadence of modern Greek art, could hardly be conceived than was furnished by this collection, It was as if some speculator had taken advantage in Eng land of the ruin of the country inns (by the immense influx of railways), to buy up all the signs, usually the works of village artists, for the benefit of the Cephalonian market. When called upon to express our opinions, we did not knew which way to look or what to say. As my companion could not be induced to open her mouth in praise, I at length, pointing to a portrait, broke out with, " There is rather a nice-looking picture I" Immediately the master of the house eagerly exclaimed, " Well, it is something to possess one good picture." I could not say lees in return for the excellent ices with which we were regaled, and which we greatly enjoyed after a sultry walk through the town in the hest of the day. A gallant fiAd-oflicer, who, a day or two after visited the same gallery, was compelled, in order to avoid impolite convulsions, to cram his handkerchief into his mouth. Yet the gallery was one of which the Cepha lonians generally were very proud, regarding it as an honour to the country. Many anecdotes are scattered throughout these pages, and on closing the second volume the reader will have a tolerable notion of the beauties and drawbacks of a residence at Corfu, having been already in the previous volume initiated into all the intricacies of lonian history and diplomacy during the last fifty years. YGDGINIENT.—By a new act of parliament future judgments are not to affect land until the land is delivered in mention. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S ETLEGRAMS.) SPAIN. THE SPANISH PASSIVE DEBT. MADRID, AUG. 23, Evenivg. The Ministerial journals reproduce the financial articles recently published by El Diarlo Espanol, which endeavoured to prove that the Passive llubt of Spain was equitably settled by the last law. SWITZERLAND. THE DISTURbANCES AT GENEVA. BERNE, AUG, 24. M. Fornerod reports t. the Federal Council that he hopes a settlement of the present troubles is now in prospect, as the Grand Council will shortly ba convoked to propose that the recent electins at Geneva be inquired into by Federal commissioncia. The Federal troops have been well received by the population. There is considerable excitement in the city, but it is hoped that tranquillity will soon be restored. CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS. MALTA, Aua. 23. The Poonah leaves at 9 p.m. for Southampton , and the Euxine at 11 p.m., for Marseilles. The former may be expected to arrive about September 1. OUTWARD BOMBAY MAIL. The Ellora, frcm Southampton on the 12th inst., reached Malta on the 21st at 6 a.m., arid left at no 2ll for Alexandria. The Ceylon, from Marseilles on the 20th, arrived at 11 p.m. on the 22d inst., and left at 5 a,m. on the 23d for Alexandria. FRANCE. BOURSE, Aug. 23.—The market has been heavy Threes, for the Account, are with difficulty main tained at 66fr. 30c,, and Mobilier have declined to I,ooofr, Railway Market without animation, and some of the lines quoted rather lower. The market closed as follows : 41 per Cents .. 94 60 Do. end month.... 3 per Centb Do. end month 66 30 Credit Mobilier..., 1003 50 Do. end month 1000 Bank Shares 3355 Credit Fonder 1220 Roman (Italian Loan 67 35 Do, end month .67 50 Ditto Threes .. New Mexican b 6 Russian Austrian - Spanish Threes """ florae Debt Deferral - -- BAIL Orleans ; .••• Northern .... Lyons and Mediterranean Southern Western .. Eastern • 00000000 ••••• Sardinian Austrian Lorrbard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona 'ATS. Cash. Account. 888 75 .. 883 75 982 50 986 -- 926 25 .. 922 5 0 640 -- .. 640 -- 523 -- .. 526 25 492 50 .. 495 -- 347 50 .. -- 431 25 433 75 640 -- .. 541 2 5 412 50 .. 410 -- 500 -- 498 7 5 230 MAIIKETS—This Day. MARK-LANE. Fresh up to our market to-day the arrivals of home-grown wheat were but woderaie. For mo st, qualities the trade ruled steady, and'iNionday's priests were , supported. With most descripaons of foreign wheat, the market was moderately supplied. On the whole, th e t r adp r uled steady at full quotation s . e-grown Floating cargoes of grain were in moderate request at late rates. The supply of barley on sale was very moderate. The trade, however, was quiet at previous quotations. IsT e w English barley, 325. to 375. per quarter. For malt the demand ruled inactive on former terms. The supply of oats on sale was large. For most qualities there was a tolerably active market at very full prices. Beans and peas ruled firm and were quite as dear as on Monday. The flour trade was quiet on former terms. ARitIVALS THIS WVEK. Wheat. Barley, Malt. Oats. Flour. English .. 1,220 130 1,230 1,040 490 Irish Foreign 4BO 570 25,360 260 sks. 1,340 brls. BOROUGH HOP. Last year's hops are in moderate request at full quota tions. New hops are selling at £7 to £8 per cwt. Old hops are a dull inquiry. WHITECHAPEL. The supply of meat on sale is but moderate. The trade rules firm at full prices : Beef, from 2s 10d to 49 4d ; mutton, 3s 8d to 40 $d ; lamb, 4s Sd to 5s 4d ; veal, 3s 10d to 49 6d ; and pork, 33 4d ;o 4s 4d per Sibs by the carcase. CHILD MURDER IN BIRMINGHAM..— An ad-- journcd inquiry was held before Dr B. Davies, corn. ner for the borough of Birmingham, on Monday, touching the death of a child five months old, named Edward John. Thompson, the illegitimate offspring of Lucy Thompson, a girl of 20, by whom, as alleged, the deceased had been poisoned by a compound known as " Hunter's vermin killer." The mother of the child, a wretched-looking object, was pm,- sent, in the custody of Inspector Percy. Some evidence taken on the first inquiry having been read, Dr Alfred: Hill, public analyst for the borough of Birmingham, was. trilled, and deposed to having made an analysis of the contents of the stomach and portions of intestines of the deceased, which were handed to him in two sealed jars by the coroner's officer. He tested the contents of the jars for mineral poisons, but failed to detect any traces c‘ their presence. He then searched for organic poisons, and discovered strychnia in considerable quantities. He then procured a reaction by the usual process, which also showed the presence of the same poison. 'Witness stated that he Lad analytically tested a packet of the poison called " Vermin Killer," and found it composed of strychnia, to the extent of one-half of the bulk of the powder, mixed with starch, and ultramarine as a colouring matter. The powder in the packet he examined was one ordinarily sold for threepence, and weighed eleven grains; and the fraction of a grain of this powder would be fatal if administered to a child of five months old. The' accused, after being cautioned by the coroner, wade a. statement on oath, to the effect that she had suffered great privation from want of employment, having been turned out of her lodgings with her child because she had no money, and the father of the child had refused to assist her, although she had acquainted him with her Lies titute state. She added, " I spent the whole of that nil,•ht in St. Paul's churchyard, and at five o'clock in the mor;" ing I wandered down the Bull Ring. Here a feeling cam a over me, and my senses left me, and I recollect nothin more until the evening, when J came to myself and found , I was in Moor-street lock-up." The jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict of " Wilful murder," against Lucy Thompson. and the wretched woman, who fainted several times during the inquiry, was committed for trial at the next Warwick Assizes. HORRIBLE DEATH OF A BRIDE.--A fatal acs' dent, caused by a chemical match, has just takes place at Marseilles. A young girl of 18, residing in the' Rue Lcriguedes Capucoas, who had been married in the morning at the church of St. Theodore, proceeded with he : husband and friends into the country to pass the day. The bride, who was walking about in high spirits, was suddehlY seen with her dress in a flame, and heard to utter piercing cries. She had trod on a chemical match, w hi c h had ignite d and set fire to her m us li n d ress , an d i n sp it e O f every exer tion on the part of those near her, the flames could not be extinguished until she had been so dreadful l y burnt that she expired on the following morning. ACCIDENT IN A RAILWAY TUNNEL. -otl Monday night a very sericus accident, in w hich a l arge num ber of men narrowly escapee: losing their lives, occ urre d in. the Waterloo Tunnel, near Liverpool, which extendefrout Edgehill to Great Howard-stre et. About 8 o'clock eleven platelayers in the employa the London and N ort h W es t er n Railway, and residing at .3dgehill, left Edgehill station to proceed to the Waterloo station yard to prepare metal for laying on the line, and effo,;iing certain repairs. It was then- custom to work at the 'Waterloo station yard by night, because it was not clear of traffic by day. When they had approached what is termed " the bank," in that part of Cie tunnel near Byrom-street, the truck upon which t hey were seated came into collision with a waggo,a of goods standing there, and so great was the force of the concussion that the men were knocked off the truck, and precipitated in all directions upon the line. The less injured of the number gave an alarm, and they were soon taken out of the tunnel, whi c h w 4, quite dark when the accident oc curred, and conveyed to the Northern Hospital. Blame is attached to some party on account of there being no danger light at the rear of the waggon with which the truck came in contact. Several of the injuries received are pronounced to be of a most serious characzer, and some of the men aro in a very precarious state. MAr.GATE VICARAGE.—The Rev. C. T. Astley, vicar of Margate, having accepted the rectory of Brasted, Sevenoaks, the living ct Margate, worth £6OO per year, is now vacant. The Archbishop of Canterbury has the gift of Loth livings,